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According to the National Weather Service, the U.S. hurricane and tropical storm season begins May 15 in the Pacific region and June 1 in the Atlantic region. It runs through the end of November, with the most destructive storms occurring August through October.

Pre-hurricane preparation
Secure supplies and information

• Maintain a current list of telephone numbers and contacts for emergency action team members, emergency management (civil defense), local police and fire departments, medical facilities, utilities, contractors, vendors, insurance agent/broker, building owner, HVAC contractor, electrician, plumber, etc.Contact local authorities to help plan and coordinate activities before the need for emergency action.

• Designate a person to monitor weather conditions and keep the Emergency Action Plan leader up to date before, during, and after a hurricane.
• Arrange backup communications, such as two-way radios or cell phones.
• Arrange an off-site emergency communications control center, such as a hotel meeting room just outside the hurricane area, in case it becomes too dangerous to remain on site.
• Review your Business Continuity Plan and update as needed, including employee contact information.
• Remind employees of key elements of your Business Continuity Plan, such as:
• Communicating post-event procedures and work/payroll procedures
• Making sure all employees have a paper copy of the plan
• Ensuring that post-event communications procedures discuss how employees will be notified when they can return to work (local radio or TV station public service announcement, telephone call, employee intranet, etc.)
• Inspect all fire protection and life safety equipment.
• Provide diesel or gasoline-driven emergency generator on site with full tank of fuel and reserve fuel on hand. (High demand may make it difficult to obtain a generator. Advance arrangements and/or retainers may ensure availability.)
• Determine which company records are vital and make plans to protect/relocate them.
• Identify vulnerable and/or critical equipment and processes. Provide instructions for safely shutting down processes, data processing equipment, etc. Consider disconnecting and relocating critical equipment to higher elevations.
• Identify stock that needs to be protected with tarpaulins or waterproof covers.
• Identify a hot site (an off-site data processing location for immediate business resumption) or a cold site (an off-site location ready for setup of your own data processing equipment). Consider an off-site business recovery facility where you can resume general business operations.
• Identify actions to take in the event of live electrical wires, leaking gas, flammable liquids, corrosive/toxic materials, and damage to foundations or underground piping.
• Evaluate the interdependency of your facilities and develop a contingency plan.
• Maintain ongoing agreements with contractors for supplies and repairs needed after the hurricane. When possible, use contractors who are outside potential hurricane areas, as local contractors may also have storm damage or local authorities’ needs may be given a higher priority.
• Maintain emergency supplies throughout the season, such as drinking water, nonperishable food, medical supplies, flashlights, batteries, walkie-talkies, portable pumps, hose, emergency lighting, lumber, plywood, nails, hand and power tools, plastic covers and tarpaulins, etc.
• Maintain straps or other means to brace/anchor yard storage, signs, cranes, and roof-mounted equipment.
• Inspect and repair roof flashings, coverings, drains, gutters, and edge strips. Remove debris and unrestrained materials from roofs.
• Inspect and maintain signs, stacks, and tower supports, guy wires, and anchor points.
• Repair or replace loose or worn door and window latches, hardware, and seals.
• Check all exterior windows and doors for openings or cracks and use silicon caulk to seal and cracks, gaps, or holes. This includes wall mounted air conditioning units which tend to allow water to enter around or through the unit.
• Provide refitted hurricane shutters and/or plywood for windows and doorways where practical. If possible, install them in advance and leave them in place for the entire season.

• Prepare for flooding with sandbags and a supply of brooms, mops, squeegees, and other absorbents to help remove water.
• Trim or remove large trees that could fall and damage buildings or impair fire protection or electrical power and communication lines, etc.
• Arrange for site security for after the hurricane.
• Prepare a space inside for storing dumpsters, yard equipment, and yard stock.
• Evaluate safe approaches to your facility for emergency access and when employees return to work.
• Establish priority/backup personnel or rotation personnel for critical operations and/or processes. Employees may have personal emergencies and may or may not be available to return to work promptly.

Emergency kit

• First aid kit: Include prescription medications, over-the-counter painkillers, rubbing alcohol, eye wash kit, and vomit-inducing medicine in case of accidental poisoning
• Emergency lighting: flashlights, lanterns, extra batteries
• Battery or crank-powered radio
• Two-way radios or cell phones (with spare batteries)
• Plastic covers and tarpaulins
• Two-week supply of drinking water and nonperishable food
• Medical supplies/first-aid kits
• Whistles to signal and direct attention during and after a hurricane
• Portable pumps and hose
• Lumber, plywood, nails
• Hand and power tools
• Blankets and extra clothing
• Impending hurricane preparation
• Inspect and fortify your facility
• Monitor and map the hurricane to keep current on its progress.
• Implement the Emergency Action Plan. Take specific actions at the predetermined times as outlined in the plan.
• Shut down operations that depend on outside power sources in an orderly manner, following established procedures.
• Shut down gas-fired equipment and shut off main gas valves.
• Shut down all noncritical and nonessential electrical equipment.
• Disconnect the main electrical feeds to the facility, if possible.
• Ensure Emergency Kit supplies and equipment are on hand and ready for the on-site Emergency Action Team.
• Obtain cash for post-hurricane needs such as buying food and supplies or paying employees and contractors.
• Protect and/or relocate vital records off site. Include blueprints, structural records, utility plans.
• Relocate water-sensitive equipment and materials to safe areas away from exterior doors and windows and off the floor.
• De-energize and cover computers, machinery, and stock with tarpaulins and waterproof covers.
• Isolate or remove any chemicals that can react violently with each other.
• Check and clear floor drains.
• Inspect and make repairs to roof drains, gutters, and flashing.
• Secure roof-mounted equipment such as HVAC units and exhaust vents.
• Check guy wires on antennas, stacks, and towers.
• Remove TV and radio antennas and satellite dishes from the roof.
• Remove unrestrained materials from the roof.
• Close and latch exterior doors, windows, and roof hatches. Close ALL interior doors as well.
• Install hurricane shutters/plywood over doors and all windows.
• Clean out storm drains, culverts, and catch basins.
• Fill all aboveground and underground tanks with product or water.
• Verify that all fire protection equipment is in service.
• Check/maintain all necessary backup equipment, such as emergency generators and communication systems/devices.
• Fill the fuel tanks of generators, fire pumps, and all company-owned vehicles.
• Conduct a yard inspection for unrestrained materials, specifically:
• Remove loose yard debris.
• Relocate nonessential yard equipment to a safe indoor location (furniture, trash receptacles, portable planters, portable signs, dumpsters, etc.).
• Relocate yard storage of raw and finished goods indoors or secure.
• Secure yard storage of flammable liquids drums or move them to a safe location away from important buildings.
• Anchor all portable buildings and trailers to the ground.
• Secure scaffolds and cranes. Secure scaffolds to the building.
• Fasten rail crane chassis to track with bolts and clamps.
• Brace outdoor signs.
• Notify key customers, suppliers, and partners of office/facility closing and contingency plans.
• Make decisions on when to excuse employees so that they have sufficient time to prepare their homes and families.
• Customize messages for business website, telephone recording, employee intranet, etc.

During the hurricane

• Emergency personnel should stay at the facility only if safe to do so. Notify local authorities if personnel are staying on site.
• Keep names and phone numbers of electrician, heating contractor, plumber, fire department, and building owner easily accessible.
• Comply with all directions provided by authorities.
• Keep first-aid kit available.
• Designate times for key staff members to call in for situation updates.
• Update employee emergency hotline and/or company intranet and website with posting on the status of the facility.
• When safe to do so, patrol the property continuously. Watch for roof leaks, pipe breakage, fire, or structural damage.
• Constantly monitor any boilers that must remain online.
• During power failure, turn off electrical switches to prevent re-energizing of equipment until necessary checks are completed.

Post-hurricane procedures

Immediate actions

The devastation a hurricane leaves in its wake depends on the location, population density, and hurricane size. In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, it is important to quickly and calmly assess the situation.

 

• Do not move seriously injured individuals. If high-rise buildings are in the general area, falling debris may make open areas more dangerous than remaining inside the buildings. Watch out for fallen power lines and broken gas lines.
• Provide search and rescue personnel with last known location of any missing victim(s).
• Secure the site and provide watch service if necessary.
• Visually check for open bus bars, conductors, and exposed insulators before re-energizing electrical systems.

Recovery actions

• Look for safety hazards such as live electrical wires, leaking gas, flammable liquids, corrosive/toxic materials, and damage to foundations or underground piping.
• Repair automatic sprinkler protection and/or water supplies to get protection back in service as soon as possible. Use Liberty Mutual Fire Protection Impairment Procedures whenever sprinkler protection and/or water supplies are impaired. Contact Liberty Mutual at 800­541-5224 to report impairments to fire protection systems or for assistance in restoring systems.
• Conduct two-inch main drain and alarm tests on automatic fire protection sprinkler systems to verify public water supply availability.
• Control smoking and use Hot Work Permits where applicable. Maintain fire-safe conditions at all times.
• Contact key personnel and notify contractors to start repairs.
• Begin salvage as soon as possible to prevent further damage:
• Cover broken windows and torn roof coverings immediately.
• Separate damaged goods.
• Clean roof drains and remove debris from roofs.
• Limit access to freezers and refrigerated areas during periods of interrupted electrical service to maintain the temperatures as long as possible.

• Check refrigerated items for spoilage if there has been a power failure.
• Notify key customers, suppliers, and partners of office/facility reopening and any necessary property or operational changes resulting from storm damage.
• Debrief on the successes and shortcomings of your Emergency Action Plan. Compile a log of actions to be taken and incorporate improvements.

 

Hurricane information and important terms

Beyond preparing your property, it is important to stay informed and understand the hurricane terminology. By international agreement, all cyclone circulation originating over tropical waters are referred to as “tropical cyclones” and classified by form and intensity as follows:

• Tropical disturbance: A moving area of thunderstorms in the tropics that maintains its identity for 24 hours or more.
• Tropical depression: Rotary circulation at the surface, maximum sustained highest constant wind speed 38 miles per hour (33 knots).
• Tropical storm: Distinct rotary circulation, maximum sustained constant wind speed ranges from 39 – 73 miles per hour (34 – 63 knots).
• Hurricane: A tropical cyclone with winds of maximum sustained 74 miles per hour or greater that is usually accompanied by heavy rain, thunder, lighting, coastal tidal surges, and possible tornadoes. These storms are also known as typhoons in the Western Pacific and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean around Australia.
• Hurricane watch: Issued for a coastal area where there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 – 36 hours.
• Hurricane warning: Issued when hurricane conditions are expected in a specified coastal area within 24 hours or less. Actions for protection of life and property should begin immediately.
• Flash flood watch: A flash flood is possible in the area. Stay alert.
• Flash flood warning: A flash flood is imminent. Take immediate action.

What to expect

Pay close attention to terminology when reviewing weather forecasts. There is a distinct difference between “sustained” wind speeds and “gust” wind speeds. Sustained wind speeds are based on an average wind speed over a one-minute duration. Gust wind speeds are based on a maximum wind speed over a 3-second duration.

Most damage is caused by gust vs. sustained wind speeds.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a measurement scale of hurricane wind and ocean surge intensity ranging from 1 to 5. Category 1 is a weak hurricane and Category 5 is the most intense.

 

The Saffir-Simpson Classification System for Hurricanes

Updated based on American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7 guidance.

Category 1— Light damage

Sustained wind speeds	Three-second gust wind speeds	Storm surge
74 – 95 mph (33.1- 42.5 m/s)	82 -108 mph (36.7 – 48.3 m/s)	4 – 5 ft. (1.2-1.5 m)

 

Category 2 — Moderate damage

Sustained wind speeds	Three-second gust wind speeds	Storm surge
96 -110 mph (42.6 – 49.2 m/s)	109 -130 mph (48.4 – 58.1 m/s)	6 – 8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)

 

Category 3 — Extensive damage

Sustained wind speeds	Three-second gust wind speeds	Storm surge
111-130 mph (49.3 – 58.1 m/s)	131-156 mph (58.2 – 69.7 m/s)	9 -12 ft. (2.7-3.6 m)

 

Category 4 — Extreme damage

Sustained wind speeds	Three-second gust wind speeds	Storm surge
131-155 mph (58.2 – 69.3 m/s)	157 -191mph (69.8 – 85.4 m/s)	13 -18 ft. (4-5.5 m)

 

Category 5 — Catastrophic damage

Sustained wind speeds	Three-second gust wind speeds	Storm surge
>155 mph (>69.3 m/s)	>191 mph (>85.4 m/s)	>18 (>5.5 m)

 

 

• Category 1: Very dangerous winds will produce some damage. Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding, and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
• Category 2: Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and numerous roads will be blocked. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.
• Category 3: Devastating damage will occur. Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
• Category 4: Catastrophic damage will occur. Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
• Category 5: Catastrophic damage will occur. A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

 

Additional resources

Centers for Disease Control. www/emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp Federal Emergency Management Agency. www.FEMA.gov

National Hurricane Center. www.nhc.noaa.gov/om/severeweather.index.shtml  Weather.gov. https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane

 

Click here for a quote or call or text me anytime at 318-414-0033

Brian Chandler

The definition of full coverage auto insurance can vary from agency to agency, state to state, and person to person.  The simple truth is, there is no hard and fast definition or rule to what “Full Coverage” means.

Some define full coverage auto insurance as the minimum required to legally drive in the state, while others refer to minimum coverage as liability insurance only.  Some think of “Full Coverage” auto insurance as including ALL coverage that is available from towing and Uninsured Motorist to customizations and GAP.

In most cases, most people, “Full Coverage” auto insurance is defined as a policy having both liability and physical damage coverage.  In this case, full coverage auto insurance will include both collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to auto liability insurance.

Collision auto insurance will cover the costs if your vehicle is damaged by collision with another object or if you roll the car over.  Comprehensive auto insurance covers the cost of your vehicle if it is vandalized or stolen.  It also covers the cost of replacing glass that is broken on your vehicle. Comprehensive insurance will also cover the costs of repairing your car if it is damaged by fire, flood, or animals.  Of course, you are still responsible for paying your deductible.  Therefore, the amount of money you receive will be lessened by the amount of your deductible.

So, when reviewing your policy or shopping for new coverage, make sure you are asking for what you really want.

For more information and a better understanding of coverage. Click here for a quote, or call or text me at 318-336-5203.

Pattie Jones

You have many coverage options with your auto policy. Each coverage is priced separately and each are optional and must be requested by you.

 

• Liability
  This coverage applies to injuries and damages that you or family members listed on the policy cause to someone else. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else’s car with their permission.

  It’s very important to have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Definitely consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings.

 

• Medical Payments
  This coverage pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder’s car. At its broadest, PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral costs.

 

• Collision
  This coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car, object or as a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to $2,5000—the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Even if you are at fault for the accident, your collision coverage will reimburse you for the costs of repairing your car, minus the deductible. If you’re not at fault, your insurance company may try to recover the amount they paid you from the other driver’s insurance company. If they are successful, you’ll also be reimbursed for the deductible.

 

• Comprehensive
  This coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer.

  Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $500 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium.

  Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage without a deductible for windshield repairs but not replacements.

  States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist you carry it until your loan is paid off.

 

• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
  This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

  Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian.

 

• Other optional coverages can be purchased for an additional premium.  They include but are not limited to: towing and labor, rental reimbursement, additional installed equipment coverage, and GAP coverage.

Call or text me anytime about your auto insurance.  318-336-5203

Pattie Jones

(Don’t worry, we won’t tell!)

Insurance can seem intimidating when looking at it from the outside, and a lot of that has to do with the amount of jargon in the industry. Instead of leaving you on your own to guess what something means, we have gathered* a list of words to help you when looking at small business insurance policies.

* The following definitions have been written by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners andInsurance Services Office Inc. 

Actual Cash Value – In most cases it is the cost to repair or replace the damaged property, minus depreciation.

Additional Insured – A person or organization not automatically included as an insured under an insurance policy who is included or added as an insured under the policy at the request of the named insured.

Admitted/ Non-Admitted Insurance Company – An admitted company is an insurance company licensed or authorized to sell insurance in a given state.  Non-admitted insurance companies do not have the protection afforded by the state’s guaranty association.

Assessed Value – Estimated value for real or personal property established by a taxing entity.

Blanket – A single limit of insurance that applies over more than one location or more than one category of property coverage, or both.

Business Interruption Insurance – AKA Business Income Coverage.  Covers loss of income suffered by a business when damage to its premises by a covered cause of loss causes a slowdown or suspension of its operations.

Business Personal Property – Typically, property you own that is used in your business.

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) – BOP stands for Business Owner’s Policy and is a policy providing both property and liability coverage for eligible small businesses.

Certificate of Insurance – Proof of your insurance coverage.

Commercial Package Policy – Provides a broad package of property and liability coverages for businesses other than those provided insurance through a Business Owner’s policy.

Deductible – An amount the insurer will deduct from the loss before paying up to your policy limits.

Depreciation – The decrease in the value of property over a period of time, usually as result of age or wear and tear from use.

Directors and Officers Liability Insurance – A type of liability insurance covering directors and officers for claims made against them while serving on a board of directors and/or as an officer.

Errors and Omissions Liability – Protects the insured against liability for committing an error or omission (negligence or mistake) in performance of professional duties.

Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance Endorsement – Non-owned Auto Liability provides coverage for any auto that is not owned, borrowed or hired by the insured.  Hired Auto Liability provides coverage for autos leased, hired or borrowed by the insured. This endorsement is typically not available to insureds who have a policy covering other commercial automobile exposures.

Limit of Insurance – The most that will be paid by the insurer in the event of a covered loss under an insurance policy.

Premium – The amount your business pays for insurance coverage.

Professional Liability Insurance – Another name for errors and omissions insurance.

Replacement Value – The cost to replace the damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, without any deduction for depreciation.

Rider – This is an additional piece of coverage added onto a larger insurance policy. It may also be called an endorsement.

Umbrella Insurance – A policy generally written over your primary liability policy which can serve the purpose of providing coverage when the limits under your primary policy are exhausted by the payment of claims or providing coverage where the primary policy leaves off or doesn’t cover.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Insurance that covers an employer’s liability for injuries, disability or death to persons in their employment, without regard to fault, as prescribed by state or federal workers’ compensation laws and other statutes.

Insurance doesn’t have to be complicated! If you are interested in requesting a quote, please visit our website. We are always here to help!

If I can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to call or text. 318-414-0003

Brain Chandler